sptfyre51
Member
I recently purchased a refractometer after seeing reading about how hydrometers are not as accurate and over time salinity builds up and make them even less reliable. The hydrometer I had been using is only about 6 months old and I would wash it out with hot water after each use. When I test my salinity with the hydrometer it says it is at 1.024. However, after calibrating the refractometer and using it to get a reading it says my salinity is at 1.03. Could there really be that much of a difference between the two?
I have tested multiple times and made sure multiple that the calibration was on. Am I using the refractometer correctly? These are the steps I took in using the refractometer. I filled up a cup of fresh water (used used filtered tap water since I don't have distilled on hand) and salt water from my tank. I then let them sit for an hour or so because the instructions stated that the water needed to be the same temp as the refractometer to get an accurate result. I then put a couple of drops of the freshwater on the refractometer, waited 30 seconds, and adjusted it so that the line was at 0. I cleaned it off and placed a couple of drops of the salt water, waited 30 seconds, and looked to see where the bar was located.
I repeated this entire process multiple times to make sure that the reading was correct and each time it was at 1.030. I also re-tested with the hydrometer several times and each time it remained at 1.024.
I have tested multiple times and made sure multiple that the calibration was on. Am I using the refractometer correctly? These are the steps I took in using the refractometer. I filled up a cup of fresh water (used used filtered tap water since I don't have distilled on hand) and salt water from my tank. I then let them sit for an hour or so because the instructions stated that the water needed to be the same temp as the refractometer to get an accurate result. I then put a couple of drops of the freshwater on the refractometer, waited 30 seconds, and adjusted it so that the line was at 0. I cleaned it off and placed a couple of drops of the salt water, waited 30 seconds, and looked to see where the bar was located.
I repeated this entire process multiple times to make sure that the reading was correct and each time it was at 1.030. I also re-tested with the hydrometer several times and each time it remained at 1.024.
